WHO: Founder and president of luxury-hospitality company Baybes, Natalia Pieschacon
WHAT: The signature Carolina Sweet Tea cocktail; the famous Batch Chicken ‘N’ Waffles of sweet tea brined and fried half-chicken, a homemade cornbread waffle served with chili-thyme honey and bourbon maple butter; the BBQ Jackfruit “Pulled Pork” Sandwich of shredded jackfruit, homemade root beer barbecue sauce, crispy onion straws and homemade pickles on a potato bun; and the new Homemade Chicken Salad Sandwich of pulled smoked chicken, mayo, celery and golden raisins topped with pea sprouts on multigrain bread.
WHERE: Batch New Southern Kitchen & Tap / 223 Clematis St., West Palm Beach / 561.708.0000 / batchsouthernkitchen.com / @batchwpb
A native Floridian of Colombian descent, Natalia Pieschacon founded her company in August 2014 at age 23 with no prior business experience. Her company, Baybes, creates a personalized, upscale hospitality experience for lavish parties, high-end corporate gatherings and charitable events that have been attended by celebrities like David Beckham to President Donald Trump. Employing and empowering a team of young women, Pieschacon and Baybes now activate about 230 events annually. A fitness enthusiast and certified personal trainer who enjoys traveling the world, Pieschacon currently resides in Delray Beach.
The idea to launch the Baybes concept first came to me: just over five years ago. I had been asked to bartend a private party for my friend’s boss, and I had an absolute blast doing it. I also realized that I was making more money than I would have at my regular bar job. When that event was over I thought to myself, “I need to do this more often. There’s an actual need and a market for this.”
Of all the lavish parties and events we’ve ever partnered with, the one I’ll never forget was: the very first extravagant event Baybes was ever booked for: a three-day Indian wedding celebration aboard a 220-foot mega-yacht. I was so nervous going in. They had booked more staff than I actually had at that time. There were so many moving parts that I needed to put together to make it work. It really took me out of my comfort zone. I’ll never forget that day, and that’s when it hit me, “OK Natalia, you actually have a real company now.”
What most people probably don’t realize about the company is: the vast majority of these women are coming to us equipped with professional hospitality training and experience from very high-end, very well respected hotels, resorts and establishments. We demand an elevated level of professionalism. Our clients are paying a premium for an elevated hospitality experience. That is the expectation. They not only represent themselves and their own personal brands, but they represent this company, our brand and all of our partners.
As a female entrepreneur and the founder of my own company, the best advice I can pass along to others entering the workforce is: to always remain consistent, in both the good times and the bad times—and trust me there will be plenty of both. Always surround yourself with people that inspire you; that you can learn from. And when it comes to making decisions, never sacrifice your core beliefs.
Carolina Sweet Tea
2 ounces of American Born
Dixie Moonshine
1 ounce of unsweetened ice tea
.5 ounce fresh lemon juice
.75 ounce simple syrup
Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake and strain over fresh crushed ice, garnish with a mint spig and lemon wheel.
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